By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate in Gombe State, Alhaji Dr Jamilu Isyaku Gwamna, has explained that a viral video in which he expressed support for former Vice President Atiku Abubakar was recorded when he was still a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Gwamna said the video, which has recently resurfaced on social media, was an old footage being circulated without the context surrounding its recording.
He said he was a member of the PDP at the time and naturally supported Atiku, who was the party’s presidential candidate during the 2023 general elections.
“I have seen the video and I know it. But it was recorded when I was in the PDP, before Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared his intention to contest.
“At that time, we were in the PDP and supported Atiku Abubakar. But after I moved to the APC, I became the coordinator of the Tinubu-Shettima campaign in 2023. We supported Tinubu and left Atiku,” he said.
The APC candidate said the current circulation of the footage could create confusion among members of the public if the circumstances under which it was recorded were ignored.
He alleged that some individuals were deliberately recycling old political videos and presenting them as recent developments for political purposes.
According to him, the widespread circulation of materials on social media makes it important for members of the public to establish the date and context of political statements before drawing conclusions from them.
“This video is being circulated now without providing the context or the period in which it was recorded. It was done for a political purpose. Therefore, I urge our supporters and the people of Gombe to disregard it,” Gwamna said.
He appealed to APC members and supporters of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to remain united and focused, saying the resurfaced video should not be allowed to cause misunderstanding within the party.
Gwamna further urged the public to verify the authenticity, date and circumstances of political videos and statements before sharing them online.
He maintained that his remarks in the video reflected his political position at the time it was recorded and should not be interpreted as his current political position.